Quick Answer
Book of Dead (Play'n GO, 2016) and Book of Ra (Novomatic, 2008) share the same core mechanic. Egyptian theme, 5 reels, 10 paylines, expanding symbol free spins. The key difference is RTP: Book of Dead offers 96.21% while most Book of Ra versions run 92–95.50%. Book of Dead also has better graphics and is more widely available online.
The Shared DNA
Book of Dead was deliberately designed in the spirit of Book of Ra, then the most popular land-based slot in Europe. Both games feature: an Egyptian adventure theme, a 5×3 reel grid, 10 paylines, a book symbol that acts as both wild and scatter, and a free spins round where one randomly selected symbol expands. The mechanics are nearly identical at a structural level.
Key Differences
RTP: Book of Dead at 96.21% significantly outperforms Book of Ra's standard 92.13% RTP (the higher 95.50% version exists but is less common online). Over a $1,000 session this difference is $40 in expected value.
Max Win: Both games offer a 5,000x max win from 5 top symbols on a payline. In Book of Dead this is Rich Wilde; in Book of Ra it is the explorer symbol.
Availability: Book of Ra is primarily associated with Novomatic-powered casinos and older platforms. Book of Dead is available at virtually every major online casino through Play'n GO's wide licensing network.
Graphics: Book of Dead uses modern HTML5 with crisp animations and dynamic sound. Book of Ra, especially in its original form, uses older visual design from the mid-2000s. Book of Ra Deluxe and newer variants have improved visuals but still lag behind Book of Dead's production quality.
Which Should You Play?
For online play, Book of Dead is the clear choice based on RTP alone. The 96.21% vs 92–95% gap is meaningful over time. Both games deliver the same core experience — long waits for free spins, followed by an expanding symbol reveal that determines the bonus value. If you enjoy one, you will enjoy the other. But for the best mathematical return, Book of Dead wins.
Mechanically they're nearly identical, both are 5×3, 10-payline, expanding-symbol Egyptian slots. Book of Dead's 0.71% higher RTP gives it a slight edge mathematically. Book of Ra has the historical pedigree (2005 origin) but is less available at regulated operators. For most players in regulated markets (UK, Sweden, Germany), Book of Dead is the more practical choice.
Statistics throughout this page are sourced from SlotTracker's public dataset of 8.3 million tracked Book of Dead spins, cross-referenced with our own 10,000-session Monte Carlo simulation calibrated to the canonical 96.21% RTP build.
Is Book of Dead a copy of Book of Ra?
Mechanically, yes — Book of Dead replicated Book of Ra's structure almost feature-for-feature. The narrative and visuals are distinct (Rich Wilde character vs. anonymous explorer), but the mechanics are near-identical.
Which has higher RTP?
Book of Dead at 96.21% (canonical) versus Book of Ra Deluxe at 95.50%. A 0.71% edge to Book of Dead.
Can I play Book of Ra in the UK?
Limited availability. UKGC regulations restricted Novomatic operations in 2019-2020. Book of Ra is hard to find at UK-licensed operators. Book of Dead, in contrast, is widely available.
Which has more max win?
Identical, both cap at 5,000x stake. The probability of hitting max is also similar across both.